Airbnb to ban illegal long lets

Many of the site’s London listings were let for more than the legal limit last yearCarl Court/Getty Images

Airbnb has caved in to pressure by announcing a crackdown on landlords letting homes on its website illegally.

The accommodation company said that from next month it would not allow homeowners to let entire properties for more than 90 days a year unless they had proof of planning permission.

The cap applies only to London but opens the door for other cities to impose similar rules.

In October The Times revealed that an increasing number of landlords were using the website to let their properties on short-term rentals, reducing the stock of housing in the long-term rental market and driving up prices.

Almost half of all Airbnb properties are offered by professional landlords.